081 Andy Beta on Alice Coltrane

On this episode, Marc talks to Andy Beta, author of "Cosmic Music: The Life, Art, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane," published in March of 2026. It's a thorough and insightful biography of the musician and her various lives as a prodigious young student, a seasoned jazz player, a wife and mother tightly bonded to her husband John Coltrane, and a swami who reached spiritual heights as a teacher and leader. Andy charts all of these versions of Coltrane while also providing close readings of her many amazing recordings.

As he writes, "Even five years ago, it seemed unlikely that Journey in Satchidananda and the music of Alice Coltrane could ever be acknowledged or accepted by a wider audience...Yet I'm reluctant to classify Alice Coltrane as an example of a beloved artist going from obscurity to belated discovery. The stars are always above us, but the conditions on Earth must be right in order to fully glimpse their splendor. In that sense, Alice's "Cosmic Music" was always there, waiting for that moment when a new generation would be ready to hear its message."

You can buy "Cosmic Music" here.

We hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with Andy Beta!